ABSTRACT
The role of non-engineering design disciplines (such as industrial design and interior design) and their applications in the marine industry is vague. People, as “users” of a ship, are commonly utilized as a source of design input for non-engineering design disciplines. Differing types of people inhabit a ship simultaneously and have differing roles, expectations, experiences and purposes for the onboard environment and its design features. This paper reviews the role of design methods and usercentred design research in the marine industry. Focusing on passenger ship design concepting, it explores how the two main users of passenger ships, (i) the paying customers/passengers and (ii) the onboard crew can be brought into the ship design and development process. This paper discusses the significance of a user-centred design research approach in the marine industry and the challenges of integrating nonengineering design disciplines into marine engineering and shipbuilding processes. Several perspectives will be discussed through case examples, including topics on design management, transition from 2D to 3D modelling in concepting phases, design for passenger safety and crew work efficiency. As such, this paper examines a new direction for research and practical applications in marine engineering and shipbuilding.
